Roundabout.



N. L. MAYHEW.

A nounmno'u'r.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1911. 1,033,258. Patented July 23, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Attorneys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHANIEL L MAYI-IEW, OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

ROUNDABOUT.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL L. MAY-I HEW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaumont, in the county of Jefferson and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Roundabout, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of the present invention, to provide a novel means for actuating the rotatable member of a roundabout; to provide novel means for suspending and upholding the rotatable member of a roundabout; and to improve generally, both the fixed portion and the rotatable member ofv such a structure.

it-h the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment. of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings ;Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, parts being omitted for thesake of clearness; Fig. 2 is a section on the line A-B of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line GD of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the ratchet plate and the parts which are carried thereby.

The fixed portion of the roundabout comprises a pair of intersecting sills 1, to the extremities of which, inwardly slanting uprights 2 are connected, in any desired manner, as shown at 3, the upper ends of the uprights 2 carrying intersecting cross bars 4, connected with the uprights 2 in any desired manner, as shown at 5, the cross bars '4 being connected with the uprights 2, by

means of diagonal braces 6. An upright mast 7 is held against rotation in the cross bars 4 and in thesills 1, the mast uniting the cross bars and the sills, at their places of intersection.

Surrounding the foot of the mast 7, and resting upon one of the sills 1, is a collar 8, having an outstanding flange 9, from which upstands a bearing collar 10, surrounding the mast 7. A footpiece l1 rests upon the flange 9, and is provided with a tubular bearing 11, rotatable about the bearing 10. Connected with the bearing 11*,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 27, 1911.

Patented July 23, 1912.

Serial No. 640,828.

and with the footpiece 11, are a plurality of sockets 12, open at their upper ends, and slanting outwardly.

Seated at their lower ends in the sockets 12, and secured therein in any desired manner, are a plurality of booms 14, extending upwardly, and slanting outwardly. The upper ends of the booms 14 are united by hori zontal tension members 15, and upwardly slanting guys 16, unite the upper ends of the booms 14 with a plate 17, the guys 16 preferably being hooked into the plate 17 as shown at 16. The plate 17 is upheld by a support 18, having a convex upper surface to receive the plate 17, the support 18 havmg an upstanding collar 19, surrounding, and secured to the mast 7, the plate 17 being rotatable about the collar 19 and upon the support 18.

A plurality of seats 20, horizontally disposed, are adjustably connected, as shown at 21, with the booms 14, adjacent the lower ends of the booms, the seats 20 preferably being rigid boards. The seats 20 are connected by tension members 50. Suspension members 22, inwardly slanting, are connected at their lower ends with the outer ends of the seats 20, the upper ends of the suspension members being connected with the upper ends of the booms 14, the outer ends of the seats 20 being located beyond the outer ends of the booms 14. Each seat 20 provided with a back 23, connected by arms 24 with the seat, the seat carrying likewise, a foot-board 25, supported by suitable hangers 26.

In order that the occupants of the roundabout, may rotate the-seat-carrying portion thereof, a mechanism is mounted upon the mast 7 to effect this end. The mechanism above mentioned consists of a ratchet plate 27 provided with a collar 33 which surrounds the mast, pins 28 being extended through the collar 33 to engage the mast. The ratchet plate is provided at its periphery with a series of teeth, denoted generally by the numeral 29 and seen most clearly in Fig. 2. A plate 32 surrounds the collar 33, and rests rotatably upon the ratchet plate 27 Pins 31 are inserted through the collar 33 into the mast 7, above the plate 32, to hold the latter in place upon the ratchet plate 27. I

Pivoted as shown at 34 to the plate 32,

for horizontal swinging movement, are a series of levers 35. Fulcrumed intermediate their ends as shown at 36, upon the levers 35, are pawls 37, adapted to engage the teeth 29 of the ratchet plate 27, the pawls being maintained in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet plate by means of springs 100, connecting the outer ends of the pawls 37 with the levers 35. Retractile springs 38 connect the intermediate portions of the levers 35 with the booms 14, and flexible members 39 extend from the outer ends of the levers 35 to points adjacent the seats, the outer ends of the cords or flexible members 39 being, if desired, secured either temporarily or permanently to the suspension members 22.

The operation of the structure hereinbefore set forth is as follows. The occupants of the roundabout, taking their positions upon the seats 20, may draw upon the flexible members 39. bers 39 are drawn upon, the lovers 35 will be tilted upon their fulcrums 34, the pawls 37 engaging with the teeth 29 of the fixed ratchet plate 27, the seat-carrying portions of the roundabinit being thus rotated about the mast 7. Vhen the flexible members 39 are released, the springs 38, being connected with the booms lt, will advance the levers 35, permitting the pawls 37 to secure a new hold upon the teeth 29 of the ratchet plate 27, the springs 100 exercising the obvious function of maintaining the pawls 37 engaged operatively with the ratchet plate. hen the flexible members 39 hang slack, the plate 32, together with the levers 35 and the pawls 37 will rotate about the mast 7, together with the seat-carrying portion of the roundabout, the pawls 37 clicking over the teeth 29 of the ratchet plate 27.

There is an advantage in pivoting the lovers 35 to the plate 32, instead of forming these elements integrally. This advantage lies in the fact that the occupant of the roundabout may slack away the particular flexible element 39 which he is holding, permitting an individual lever 35 to swing, the pawl upon such lever engaging a new hold upon the teeth 29 of the ratchet plate 27, even though all of the other levers 35 are in operation.

When the flexible mem Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A device of the class described comprising a mast; a member rotatable upon the mast; booms outwardly extended at their upper ends, the rotatable member including means for engaging the lower ends of the booms; tension members connecting the upper ends of the booms; a member rotatable upon the mast; guys connecting the last mentioned member with the upper ends of the booms; seats connected at their inner ends with the booms; suspension members connecting the outer ends of the seats with the outer ends of the booms; and tension members connecting the seats.

2. A device of the class described comprising a mast; a collar surrounding the mast and provided intermediate its ends with an outstanding flange; a tootpiece rotatable upon the flange, and having a collar to surround the collar of the :tootpiece; there being outwardly inclined sockets connecting the footpiece with its collar; outwardly extended booms, seated in the sockets; seats carried by the booms; tension members connecting the upper ends of the booms; a support having a collar to inclose the mast; a plate upheld by the support and rotatable upon the collar; and guys connecting the plate with the upper ends of the booms.

3. A device of the class described comprising a mast; a member rotatable upon the mast, and provided with a series of sockets; booms inserted into the sockets, and outwardly extended at their upper ends; tension members connecting the upper ends of the booms; a member rotatable upon the mast; guys connecting said member with the upper ends of the booms; seats connected at their inner ends with the booms; suspension members connecting the outer ends of the seats with the outer ends of the booms; and. tension members connecting the seats.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my sig nature in the presence of two witnesses.

NATHANIEL L. MAYHEl V.

\Vitnesses J. A. BRINSON, J. D. Bownns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. 

